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LA VERKIN, Washington County — A former staff member at a youth group home in southern Utah was charged Thursday with inappropriately touching two girls at the facility.
Tyler Quinn Heilbult, 23, of Georgetown, Texas, is charged in 5th District Court with two counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony. Prosecutors have requested a warrant be issued for his arrest.
The investigation began in July after La Verkin police responded to a report a sex offense "at a local youth group home after allegations were made that the suspect Tyler Heilbut had touched one of the girls inappropriately while swimming," according to an affidavit filed in support of the warrant. It does not name the group home.
A 17-year-old girl told another staff member about the incident at the pool, and then further disclosed that Heilbut had sent her a note telling her that he "wants to kiss her so badly" and that there is a "fake camera" in one of the hallways at the facility, where it would be undetected, court documents state.
The teen also told police about two others girls with whom Heilbut allegedly exhibited similar behavior. Police interviewed those girls. One of them said she was also inappropriately touched while in the pool and claimed Heilbut "would control her by making her do things," such as telling her what she could and could not eat, according to the affidavit.
Another girl said "she knew about Tyler getting fired. She said he would make inappropriate jokes to the whole group of girls, where he would talk about his sex life and how other girls would talk to him at night and write notes back and forth. She said he would talk to the girls and say sexual things," the affidavit states.
Police say Heilbut has since moved out of state and has refused to return officers' calls.
